Priscilla the Pink Pig

There is a great holiday tradition here in Atlanta for little kids that began in 1953. The holiday rides that can be taken on Priscilla the Pink Pig.

Priscilla at one time strolled along the top of the Rich's building in Downtown Atlanta, suspended from at steel rail frame. Now the Pink Pig resides at a giant white tent on top of the parking deck near Macy's at Lenox Mall. The interior of the tent is decked out in pink stars and pink lights and a little store area full of pink pigs.

A ride for kids allows children and adults if you chose to take a stroll through a Christmas wonderland on Pricsilla that is full of pink. Rides are very reasonable at $3 or 2 rides for $5.50 and if you choose to ride twice you don't have to wait in line, you can just stay on the pig train. A portion of the proceeds for the ride benefit Children's Healthcare of a Atlanta, so all in all a win win for many, right?

My husband and I thought that we were doing good to meet up with a friend and her kids between 10:30 and 11am on Saturday morning. I mean the pig doesn't start running until 10am and it was cold how bad could the wait be? Plus I had three 3 year olds the were very very excited about riding the pink pig for the very first time.

So we got in line and the wait started, and we waited in side the mall for a little while the girls were excited and we had Starbucks, life was good. Then we got outside, it had been a while, but the girls were still doing good and were excited if maybe a little chilly. It was in the 30's a bit cool for Atlanta, but the Starbucks was still warm so things were fine. Then we got to see Priscilla, herself, waiting near the tent after about an hour.

The girls were happy to see Priscilla and any grumps were temporarily vanquished. Then there was a nice sign to pose by and a nice banner, but things were starting to go downhill.

There were some tight smiles here that were coaxed out of the photo participants, but by this time DH was crouched down trying to keep Boogie warm, and B Bug was clinging to be shivering and crying that she wanted her mommy. The line was not moving but the wind was and the opening of the tent could not come quick enough. However, the best thing about the tent was that it cut the wind, there was no heat or heaters to be seen, and people were huddling close for body heat, by this time we had been in line for about an hour and a half, but by now we were also getting on that pig!

Finally, finally after an hour and 45 minutes we made it to the front of the line, and it was time to ride the Pink Pig. Was it worth the wait for the parents, nope, with all the whining, crying, cold and wind. Was it worth the wait for the girls I am not entirely sure but they seemed to have a good time, all in all.

Or perhaps not...there seems to be mixed reviews here.


I would just say that if you "THINK" that you might want to visit and ride the Pink Pig, either go in the middle of the week, before school is out, or be there before the ride starts in the morning and be one of the first in line. Other then that expect a nice long wait and quiet a few instances of telling your children that you are almost to the front. Work on your acting skills and pray that they believe you. Good luck and Happy Holidays. Oh and I got the sticker that says "I rode the Pink Pig" :D

December Photo Post 5 & 6

Yep I am playing catch up again but please cut me a little slack I hosted a sleep over Friday night for 3 3 year olds and survived by the skin of my teeth. The we took them on Saturday morning to ride this....

This is an Atlanta holiday tradition that now benefits Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. It was an interesting experience and I will post more about this, but suffice it to say, Saturday morning is not the best time to go with 3 year olds when it is 30 degrees outside and you have to wait outside.

Today however we did something a little new...we went to a Christmas tree farm and cut down a tree. We have never done this before and Jon and Boogie were ready to get that tree....

Again it was about this 30 degrees this morning and we froze our fingers off but it was a lot of fun and we all had a great time. :D We Georgians are not used to this cold weather this early in the season, but it does help put you in the holiday spirit. So happy holidays everyone.

Photo Challenge #4

I am going to carry through on my Peanuts kick. Tonight I got to introduce two 3 year olds with the help of my 3 year old daughter to the wonderful world of Charlie Brown. We got home and popped in Merry Christmas Charlie Brown and they kinda watched, enough to please my daughter anyway. My daughter's love of Charlie Brown all started with this:

On nice soft Snoopy that plays the peanuts theme and my 3 year old daughter is now hooked on a cartoon that was popular when my mom was a little girl. Just goes to show that the classics carry through to any generation. Good stuff Mr. Schultz, thank you!!!

Photo Challenge #3

It is not the Christmas season until I have seen Merry Christmas Charlie Brown. Now I just need to see Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer and the season is officially on.

Day 1 and 2 of The December Photo Challenge

Okay so I dropped the ball last night. I missed the first day of the photo challenge so I am posting two pictures to make up for it.

First is the cutest person that I know and the whole reason that we celebrate Christmas. We want to teach her to give and to be appreciative of what she receives. Here is my lovely little elf.

For today's picture is my partner in crime with the little elf. He is not quite so cheery about the holidays and hates having his picture taken, but after 10 years of marriage he's getting better with the pictures. Still for our little Boogie, he would do just about anything for her including putting up hundreds of Christmas lights. Here is my DH who might look a little bit like the Grinch, but would do just about anything for the little elf.

Enjoy the photos and I will promise to be better with the picture postings from here on out.

Not Me Monday

I like this idea...it comes from this blog..www.mycharmingkids.net. This is my first shot at this so here goes....

I absolutely did not stay up all day Thanksgiving, eat a kings ransom in turkey and mashed potatoes, and then drag my mom, brother and sister in law out to the Orlando Premium Outlets at midnight to sit in traffic for two hours to park. I most certainly did not then continue to shop with my mom (after above mentioned brother and SIL bailed on us an hour and a half into the expedition) until 6:30am. I then did not get up after two hours of sleep and jump right back in the car with my wonderful, beautiful, resilient mom and continue our shopping spree in Ocala for the next two hours, only to return home to sleep for the 4 hours before getting up with my darling 3 year old.

The cherry on the sundae is that I did not do all of this 7 months pregnant with my 2nd little princess and no Starbucks. That would just be insane and no pregnant woman in her right mind would do such a crazy thing even if it did mean saving hundreds of dollars in sales prices. No way was that me.

There are no pictures, so it had to be someone else.

Princesses, Frogs and Fish!

This past weekend was an eventful one for us, they usually are, but this one was exceptionally fun. We started off the weekend by attending the Georgia Aquarium's promotion of The Princess and the Frog, with Disney. It was princess day so all little girls were encouraged to dress up like the favorite princess. Now seriously who is going to miss that? LOL!!

So we got up bright and early to get properly attired as Sleeping Beauty in all her finery (plus long sleeve shirt, tights and leggings since it was a smidge chilly) and did our hair in a princess bun before topping it all off with a crown. At the aquarium we met up with Mrs. K., A and J, and Mrs. J and Mr. C, M and L. Here is the pretty shot of all of our princesses who happened to find a frog.


Once the frog had hopped away with a cheerful goodbye ribbit, we were on to the fish. This is the big excitement, and a great draw. If you have never been to the Georgia Aquarium I highly recommend it, even in its current state of construction. Just know ahead of time that some of the exhibits including the sea otters an the belugas are closed while they add on the Dolphin exhibit. It is a bit of a bummer, but the large tank is magnificent and awe inspiring with it's many inhabitants including 4 whale sharks and 2 huge Manta Rays.

Look at the size of her compared to the kids. Boogie is 3 feet tall and the ray is easily twice her size. They are amazing.

There are lots of different habitats to see in the aquarium, and its all the better when there are little princesses walking around enjoying the scenery.

There are huge windows all along the big tank where the kids (and Adults) can sit and just watch all the fish swim by.

I think as a frequent visitor Boogie took it upon herself to point out some of the finer points of this particular window area to her best friend L. We see this look at our house quiet often, and it makes me wonder if I don't use it alot. Hhhmmmm...

With one last photo opp out of the way, it was time to head out. This by the way was simply a lucky shot as Boogie can not seem to stand still for longer then about a second, and definitely not for her mommy to take a picture. Luck be a lady!

The princesses needed some fresh air and so we headed to the big open space to run out the rest of that energy.

I was able to snag this cute one of Boogie and A before they headed off to the big field wonderfully placed between the Aquarium and the World of Coke, smart idea guys! Once the grass was reached it was all over from there.

The energy soon started to fade, and before long the princess temper tantrum's set in.

If you are not a parent or you are a soon to be parent the above picture is a sign that it is time to go home. Be forewarned this can happen quickly and in any location. There are a few variations of this pose, but they all mean "It's nap time".

So we said goodbye to the Aquarium and The World of Coke and the other princesses that were striking some of the variations of the above pose and headed back to the car. It was a fabulous day and I think all those involved had a great time.